Another great podcast, Glenn & Valerie! I so love your in depth, scene-by-scene analyses of the shows - plus the geeky/Trekkie/academic sidetracks you give us as background to what's happening. So appreciated.
I liked this episode, but was surprised to find out it's a two-parter to end the half season. And like you guys, I was reminded of the Organians' peace effort from TOS. Curious to see how STD's first "fall finale" will play out.
CORNWALL: I didn't think for a second that she's dead. (Glenn needn't worry, the obvious love of his 23rd century life will totally be back!) Just in the way they shot it... that's not how these shows kill off mature actresses. I think L'Rell secretly might've sedated Corny during their tussle, or whatevs. But I'm guessing it was L'Rell's plan all along to sneak aboard the Discovery with whomever Kol took as a hostage. I'm just glad it's Corny and not the hostage who was supposed to be used - my nemesis Sarek - who btw was not in Sickbay when we saw Saru in there - so Sarek is safely far, far away! LOL
Speaking of SARU: like Valerie, I was also confused / off-put by our Kelpien's bit of Sickbay dialogue implying he was in his right mind when he beat the crap out of his fellow officers. I'd need to know he was temporaily insane or I'd ask Lorca to confine Saru to quarters / throw him in the Brig.
AIRIAM: This was a HUGE episode for Airiam, as we see that when Lorca, Saru and Burnham are gone, our favorite "spore drive ops operator" is next in line to take the con! Maybe the next episode will start with the entire crew of Discovery naked and in chains, under the lustful command of AIRIAM!
CLOAKING CONTINUITY: I am now nervous that this strange new wrinkle in what we believed was future history - i.e. that the Klingons shouldn't have cloaking tech yet - plus Stamets' apparent ability to see into alternate timelines, or perhaps affect them - plus the repeatedly-mentioned fact that spore drives can't exist past this series - may lead to this show being or ending up as (gulp)... an alternate timeline. And I parenthetically gulp because the Kelvin Universe films demonstrated to me that I don't really care for / or have a lasting investment in alternate Star Trek timelines. One thing I love about this franchise is its long, connective continuity. Okay BionicDave, take a deep breath... don't borrow trouble... be patient...!
You're right, that definitely must be the intention of Saru's "oh, it was totally my choice to throttle you two" comment. If Disco were smart, it'd really make a meal out of that mutiny parallel - at least to build a strong positive bond between Saru and Burnham.
BionicDave, you are too kind. *Bows to you* I’m very glad that what, prior to this podcast, seemed like a head full of silly knowledge is helpful to listeners. Maybe Glenn and I will need to take another Latin class.
I agree with your reading of Cornwall, particularly from the way that they actually shot her face and her body throughout the scenes. I don’t have the same confidence that you do, though, in her being alive, simply because I don’t quite trust Disco yet. We need more time to get to know each other (and maybe a little less time with them hurting people I love).
I’m really glad someone brought up what’s important, though, and that’s Ariam. New idea: Ariam becomes the Disco captain, and we get a spin-off show: Sarek’s Shuttlecraft Adventures. Every episode is just Sarek showing up where he’s not wanted and then mysteriously disappearing on a shuttle when no one is looking. Who’d watch with me?
In all seriousness, though, I agree with Glenn that it would be completely nuts for Disco not to be canonical. Hopefully that helps you slow your breathing. :)
Lastly, BionicDave, one possibility regarding Saru could be that Burnham is the only one he’s confessed to about the true nature of what happened to him on Phavo, and that’s why he’s not in the brig. Perhaps, then, this could seek to unite them, both having gone off the rails a bit for what felt emotionally overwhelming for them in a particular moment. It might be why Burnham is more willing to accept what happened, forgive him, and not tell Lorca.
Haha, BionicDave, you have so artfully given voice to all of my anxieties.
You make an awesome point about Saru. If he was in control of his faculties when he choked out Tyler and beat up Burnham, he does belong in the brig. Indeed, I wonder how his choice to disobey orders and to sabotage a crucial war-time mission differs from Burnham's mutiny? It seems to me that he should be facing some serious charges unless we accept that he was under the influence of the Blue Pollen.
And I have faith that it's all going to work out with the cloaking devices and the spore drive. The producers were so adamant that Disco would be in the Prime Timeline and I have to believe that they aren't just trolling us. If anything, I think this show is having to do some continuity gymnastics because of the inclusion of The Animated Series in the canon -- a choice I think that most Trek writers would have preferred went the other way. I, for one, have been surprised by how important it is, and was definitely not expecting to spend Thanksgiving binge-watching TAS.
Also, is Airiam the Scotty of this show? I hope we get more of her in the second half of the season.
And thanks for your very generous words!